Family of murdered Justin McLaughlin pay tribute to 'blue-eyed boy' killed at Glasgow High Street station

The family of a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed in the heart at a Glasgow railway station have paid tribute to their “blue-eyed boy” who had a “smile that lit up the room”.

Daniel Haig, 18, stabbed Justin McLaughlin in the heart during a broad daylight attack on October 16, 2021 at Glasgow’s High Street station.

Jurors heard how the dying schoolboy – who had celebrated his birthday two days earlier – begged for his mum as friends came to his aid on the platform of High Street station.

Justin was rushed to hospital, but never survived the single blow delivered by Haig, who was 16 at the time.

Haig denied murder, but had admitted stabbing the boy.

He claimed he had only wanted to “injure” Justin after a fight at the station shortly before the attack.

Haig was convicted following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday.

He now faces a life sentence when he returns to the dock.

Regards the murder, Lord Clark told the young thug: “This was a dreadful act of stabbing with a large bladed knife that went straight through his heart.”

Justin’s family had sat through the trial listening to often harrowing evidence.

After the verdict, they paid tribute to their “blue eyed boy” with a “smile that lit up the room”.

The family said: “Justin had his full life ahead of him. Our life will never be the same.

“He was the character of the family – his younger brothers miss him so much.

“He was their best friend as well as a brother. It is a family devastated by knife crime.”